Faculty

Emily Althoff smiling.

July 30, 2024

Emily Althoff

Althoff holds a split appointment between MU and Lincoln University. Here, she hopes to research local concerns in pest management and conservation working with local, state, and federal partners. Results from her research are incorporated into her extension programming. Requesting Insect Identification from the Althoff Lab: Email: Send everything to emilyalthoff@missouri.edu. We look forward to working with you to solve Missouri insect mysteries! Educational background…

Cecilia Rocha

July 18, 2024

Cecilia Rocha

Cecilia has extensive experience in the field of reproductive physiology of beef cows. She develops applied and basic research aiming to increase reproductive efficiency in beef operations. Around 40 to 60% of cows lose a pregnancy in the first 30 days of gestation. Cecilia studies the main events that happen in this moment which could be manipulated to reduce pregnancy loss, such as, interferon-tau signaling, immune response of the uterus, and embryo-maternal crosstalk in uterine tissues. Educational background…

Lijing Gao smiling.

July 15, 2024

Lijing Gao

Gao was trained as an agricultural science communication specialist and an environmental sociologist, focusing on the interconnectedness of agricultural systems with socio-economic, political, and ethical decisions. Her current research focuses on understanding perceptions of livestock biotechnology, particularly genome editing. Gao employs a mixed-method approach. Educational background Courses taught…

Jay Johnson smiling.

July 1, 2024

Jay S. Johnson

Johnson is an Associate Professor of Animal Welfare and Stress Physiology in the Division of Animal Sciences. The overall goal of his research program is to identify production-relevant stressors and evaluate and mitigate their impacts on livestock health, productivity, and welfare. Johnson’s research program uses an integrative physiology approach encompassing aspects of stress physiology, nutritional physiology, and applied ethology to develop and/or improve upon livestock husbandry practices that enhance animal health and welfare while maintaining or increasing economic return for producers. Specific research areas include improving heat stress resilience in swine through genomic selection, improved management, and nutrition to…

Margaret Lange

June 23, 2024

Margaret J. Lange

Carson Roberts

June 2, 2024

Carson Roberts

Roberts is an Assistant Professor and State Extension Specialist for Forage Agronomy at the University of Missouri. Roberts holds a Ph.D. in Plant and Soil Science from Mississippi State University. Roberts leads an applied research program on forage-livestock systems to support one of the largest beef herds in the U.S. He has a particular interest in in regenerative systems that improve drought resiliency. Educational background…

Teagan Schnurbusch

Feb. 19, 2024

Teagan Schnurbusch

Thiago Martins

Jan. 22, 2024

Thiago Martins

Our laboratory conducts studies on the topics of hormonal control of the estrous cycle and early embryonic losses in beef cattle. Specifically, we investigate progesterone-based strategies to improve efficiency of estrous synchronization programs for beef cows, embryo-maternal communication, and new fertility-promoting molecules. The research studies involve use of steroid assays, ultrasound, molecular techniques, and omics approaches. Our laboratory is also committed to promoting the use of reproductive biotechnologies in cow-calf operations. Educational background…

Jen Anderson

Jan. 9, 2024

Jen Anderson

Ivair Valmorbida

Dec. 10, 2023

Ivair Valmorbida

Research areas include: Educational background…